How to Replace Door Handles Door handles are a crucial part of your home's decor. A new handle can transform your home's decor and bring your decor up-to-date. Over time your knobs on your doors may begin to feel stiff and even break. These are signs that it's time to replace the knobs. This guide will help you choose the right door handle replacement for your home. Door Knobs Door handles enhance the look of your house while making it easier for people to open and close doors. They come in a variety of finishes, colors, and styles to complement your decor. If yours is beginning to show signs or need an upgrade it is possible to replace them in a few easy steps. You need to locate the shaft, or spindle, through which the knob is attached to the door. Some knobs have a tiny hole that you can insert the screwdriver with a small diameter to release the set screws that hold the handle in place. Some have a small slot, or hole, that you can press a spring-activated detent pin with a flathead. The pin opens the latch mechanism, and lets you pull or push the knob. Once you have the spindle, or shaft in your hands Remove the knob and replace it. Make sure you align it properly and verify that the latch is working properly before tightening the new set screws. After you've replaced the knob, place the latch rod in position over the door's hole and then lock it using the rod mechanism on the second knob. Make sure the holes are aligned then tighten the screws on the latch plate. Some prefer the smooth or brushed finish for their door hardware for an elegant, modern look that complements other furniture in their homes. Some people prefer a rustic style that goes well with farmhouse-styled rooms. If you have family members who are unable to move You might be interested in the rim lock or lever style door knob, which require less pressure to operate. While aesthetics have traditionally been the main consideration when it comes to door handle design, other aspects are increasingly being considered too. Accessibility and control of infections have been major considerations in the development of new handle designs. For example, some can be operated with an arm. Latch The latch that holds the handle of your door open may wear out over time. It is simple to change the latch on your door handle. This will make huge differences in how it opens and closes. Depending on the type of handle you have the latch could be part of the knob itself or it could be an individual piece that is attached to the door. In either situation, the same procedure for removing and installing will be used. It's simple to remove the old latch, especially if you have a door handle with a "magic" button. This little pressure-slot, located on the side knob, is what you need to press in order to remove the latch of the handle. If your handle does not have this magic button you will need to remove the cover plates that are placed over the latch plate. These are usually rectangular or circular and can be removed using the help of a screwdriver. Some have a small slot in them that you can insert your screwdriver, whereas others snap off. Then, unscrew the machine screws that secure the latch and the plate to the door handle. These are the shorter screws with a sharp point and you'll be required to keep them in a safe location to reuse them in later steps. Once the screws are removed you can remove the latch plate and mechanism out of the door's hole and place it in a safe place. You can now begin installing the new latch. Place the latch plate in the door hole and secure it using the hardware supplied. Make sure that the square pin in the interior of the latch is facing the latching mechanism inside the handle and is aligned with the other screw holes in the handle. Then fix the exterior latch plate with the provided screws. Strike Plate One of the most frequent reasons to replace the door handle is because it feels loose or doesn't lock properly. This is usually due to incorrectly aligned parts of the latching system, for example the strike plate being too small or has moved up or down on the doorjamb as time passes. This easy project allows you to replace your existing strike plate with a longer, new one that can provide greater security and ensure that your door stays shut. Apply https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/chatham-windowrepair/ or other marking material on the bolt for the latch to check if it is the strike plate. Close the door and try to latch it. If the mark is below the strike plate's hole, it means that the plate is too small and the door will not latch. If the mark is higher or below the strikeplate hole, the strikeplate has likely been moved up or downward on the doorjamb. Depending on the door you have depending on the door, you might be able to screw the new strike plate in the door over the old one using the screws included with it. It is possible that you will need to first drill holes and then chisel some wood out to ensure a tight fit. If this is the case, be careful not to cut too deeply or you could cause damage to the integrity of your doorjamb. Installing a new style box strike plate will provide the lock with a stronger hold on the doors and require more force to open the doors. Typically it will require two longer screws to secure the strike plate to the door frame. To do this, you'll have to take off the existing strike plate and then drill and chisel away the wood to make space for the new one. This hard-to-find strike plate is made to work with rim locks from the past, and is made of sturdy solid brass in an extremely thick. It comes with wood screws and machine screws, which means you'll have the correct hardware for your job. Just remember that wood screws have a sharp tip, whereas the machine ones are more blunt.